Tank integral horn trumpet



March 31, 1970 S. J. JACOBY TANK INTEGRAL HORN TRUMPET Filed Jan. 2, 1968 3f INVENTOR.

aid/2e a? Jacal/ ATT NEY United States Patent O 3,503,363 TANK INTEGRAL HORN TRUMPET Sidney J. Jacoby, 601 W. Susquehanna Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122 Filed Jan. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 694,900 Int. Cl. G08b 21/00 US. Cl. 116-106 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compressed gas tank suitable for operation with a gas operated horn wherein the tank is provided with an axial bore conforming to the required configurations of a horn trumpet to thereby eliminate the need for an external trumpet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the general field of gas energized alarm systems employing stored reservoirs of compressed gas and is more particularly directed to a novel container for the gas wherein the features of a horn trumpet have been integrally provided.

Gas operated horn systems have found general use and increasing acceptance in fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems, paging systems and similar uses wherein loud, reliable and controllable alerting sounds must be produced.

All such devices as presently available include a power tank for containing gas under compression, an external horn comprising a diaphragm and a trumpet and the necessary connecting tubing and activating mechanism for the desired operation. In cases of fire and burglar alarms, the activating mechanism is automatically operated in response to either the presence of heat or the tripping of a trigger mechanism, as the case may be. In paging and horn warning systems, the gas from the tank is released through the horn manually by the action of an operator controlling the periods of gas flow. In most instances, inert gases such as carbon dioxide or Freon are employed for power purposes. Freon is somewhat more popular for this purpose in view of its unique physical properties which enable it to be readily and economically liquefied at room temperature using comparatively low pressures.

Such gas operated alarm systems have found widespread acceptance in the residential fire alarm field due to their reliability, ease in installation and competitive price range. Gas operated fire alarms for home use have been available for many years and the proven record of performance has resulted in a pattern of steadily increasing sales volume in the industry. Steps have been taken from time to time to improve the functioning and operation of the devices, but to date, little has been done with regard to the appearance of the individual units.

By necessity, each gas operated fire alarm unit must include a compressed gas tank, a gas operated horn, a fusible element, a heat entrapping canopy and the required connecting tubing and accessory devices. Such presently available devices are by their very nature quite bulky and ungainly in appearance. Manufacturers have attempted to solve the problem by enclosing the operating equipment within attractive shells or casings to enhance the physical appearance of the devices. However, bearing in mind that all fire detecting devices operate best when installed near the ceiling without the presence of detector shielding and consequently heat shielding constructions, in many instances even the decorative casings prove unattractive due to the bulk and ungainly size of the device itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to reduce the overall dimensions of an individual gas operated fire alarm by ice eliminating the need for a separate compressed gas tank and a separate gas operated horn. By integrally forming the interior of the tank to the configurations of the horn trumpet a combined gas tank and horn trumpet can be produced which will greatly reduce the overall size of the unit, greatly simplify piping connections and manufacturing operations, and in addition thereby reduce overall unit costs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas operated alarm of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined compressed gas tank and gas horn trumpet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a compressed gas tank wherein an axial bore has been provided.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a compressed gas tank fabricated with an axial bore of increasing diameter from one end to the other.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a compressed gas tank fabricated with an internal axial bore and meeting all required safety standards for unfired pressure vessels.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gas operated alarm system that is compact in construction and attractive in appearance.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a combined compressed gas retaining tank and gas operated horn trumpet that is inexpensive in manufacture, rugged in construction and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the combined gas tank and horn trumpet showing the piping connections.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI- MENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings I show a cylindrical compressed gas retaining tank 10 which may be constructed of steel or other suitable material and welded or otherwise fabricated in well-known manner to meet the standards and requirement of such testing and regulatory agencies as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the Interstate Commerce Commission, etc.

The tank 10 is provided at either end thereof with dished heads 12, 14 which are secured to the cylindrical body 16 in well-known manner, such as by lap joints 18, 20 peripherally welded together to provide the required structural strength and gas retaining ability. A filling opening 22 is provided in one head 12 of the tank 10 and serves both to permit gas to be inserted into the tank for storage purposes and also to allow gas to flow from the tank for horn operation purposes in response to external triggering mechanism (not shown). The fill opening 22 terminates outwardly in a boss 24 which is threaded 26 to threadedly receive the valve nozzle fit ting 28 in a gas tight connection.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it can be observed that a truncated conical axial bore 30 has been constructed internally of the tank by forming concentric, circular openings 32, 34, respectively in the tank heads 12, 14. Each opening is defined by. an interiorly extending peripheral lip 36, 38 to receive the conically shaped bore wall 40. The bore wall 40 is preferably fabricated of the same material and gauge as the outer body wall 16 and is peripherally welded 42, 44 in well-known manner to meet all of the structural, safety and pressure retaining standards hereinbefore set forth.

As shown, the axial bore is truncated conical in shape and the diameter of the opening 34 is larger than the diameterof the opening 32. The interior configuration of the bore 30 conforms to the interior configuration of a usual gas operated horn trumpet (not shown). It will be appreciated that the exact configuration and dimensions of the bore 30 depend upon the nature of the horn itself, and the configuration may be widely varied within the physical limits of the outer dimensions of the tank 10 itself to produce optimum results.

The axial bore 30 terminates at the wide end 46 thereof in an open end to freely emit sounds generated by the diaphragm (not shown) within the horn body 48 upon the flow of compressed gas from the tank 10 through the horn body. The axial bore 30 terminates at the narrow end 50 thereof in an internally threaded end 52 which threadedly receives the threaded end of the projector 54. The unthreaded end (not shown) of the projector 54 terminates outwardly in a cylindrical sleeve which is a press fit within the discharge opening 58 of the horn body 48 to facilitate uninterrupted flow of sound waves generated by the diaphragm through the bore 30 without leakage. The lock nut 56 serves to tighten the assembly in permanent relation. It is thus seen that the conical wall serves two purposes. namely as an integral pressure retaining member of the tank 10 itself and also as a trumpet section for the horn body 48.

Connecting tubing 60 joins an opening 62 in the valve nozzle fitting 28 with the input fitting 64 which is threaded into the horn body 48 above the diaphragm (not shown) to direct compressed gas from within the tank 10 to the horn body 48 in response to external triggering forces. As shown in FIG. 1, a fuse chamber 66 containing a fusible element responsive to elevated temperatures (for example 145 degrees F.) may be inserted in the line 60 between the valve nozzle 29 and the horn fitting 64 using suitable compression type fittings 68, 70. In this manner, gas will automatically flow from the tank 10 through the horn body 48 as soon as the fusible material in the fuse chamber melts upon exposure to high temperatures. The fuse chamber 66 comprises a hollow fitting incorporating an in-line conduit communicating at each end thereof with the line 60. A portion of the internal conduit (not shown) is normally completely blocked at usual room temperatures by a plug of metallic alloy, such as Woods metal solder, which readily fuses at a predetermined temperature elevated above normal room temperature by an external heat source, such as a fire. Accordingly, upon the presence of elevated temperatures, the fusible, metallic alloy melts and thereby clears the internal conduit to thus permit gas from the interior' of the tank 10 to flow through the line 60 through the fuse chamber 66 and into the horn body 48 above'the diaphragm (not shown).

The flow of gas throughthehorn body causes the diaphragm to vibrate the usual manner. The sound waves thus generated will pass the discharge opening 58 and will resound through the combined tank wall-horn trumpet 40 in the usual manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In an integral, sound emitting device capable of retaining high pressures therein, the combination of (A) a cylindrical fluid retaining pressure tank having two ends,

(1) said tankterminating at one end thereof in a first dished, pressure retaining head,

(a) the said first head peripherally connecting to the one end of the said cylinder in a fluid tight pressure retaining joint,

(2) a second dished head peripherally connecting to the second end of the said tank in a fluid tight, pressure retaining joint.

(3) the said first and second heads each being provided with a concentric, circular, pressure retaining opening (a) each opening being defined by an interiorally extending, peripheral lip;

(B) a continuous,'truncated, axially oriented, conical inner wall havinga first end and a second end,

(1) the first end contacting the said peripheral lip of the first head in a first circular joint,

(2) the said second end contacting the said peripheral lip of the second head in a second circular joint,

(3) said first and second joints having cylindrical contact areas between the said lips and the said ends of the inner wall;

(C) a horn body exteriorallyconnected to the said first opening,

(1) said horn body including a sound producing body containing a diaphragm,

(2) said horn body having a sound emission opening in communication with the said truncated inner wall;

(D) a gas conduit communicating between the interior of the said tank and the said horn body,

(1) said conduit carrying a fuse chamber intermediately positioned therein,

(a) 'said fuse chamber containing a fusible element responsive to elevated temperatures,

(1) said fusible element being solid and blocking the said conduit at normal room temperatures and said fusible element melting to open the said conduit at elevated temperatures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,273,095 9/1913 Beckwith 116-137 1,427,034 8/1922 Svensson 116-139 2,773,330 1/1957 Jacoby 116106 2,799,239 7/1957 Messick 116-106 FOREIGN PATENTS 774,033 9/1934 France.

315,888 3 /1934 Italy.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 116-112, 142. 

